Friday, September 3, 2010

How does the European Corn Borer affect the yield of corn?- Virtual Lab. Standard #4

During this virtual lab, I was asked to test the affect of the European Corn Borer on the yield of corn. The effects of the ECB infestations showed a great difference in the growth of the corn. In my first experiment, I test Golden Corn against both high and low levels of ECB. I found out that with a higher level, the growth of the corn was lower. The average of the first test was a 137.7 out of three plates of kernel. With a lower level of ECB, the average was much higher. The three averaged 173.2. This study shows that the ECB levels in the Golden Corn had a major impact. During my second study, I decided to test BT 123 and BT 456, also one with a high level and one with a lower level of ECB. The BT 123 was tested with the higher level. I soon found out that the average was closer to the lower lever on the Golden Corn, with an average of 160.6. As found in the first study, lower levels make the corn grow better. The BT 456 was tested with a lower level, and was just slightly over the average of the low Golden Corn. The average of the BT 456 Low was 177. If a farmer had no ECB in a year, I don't think it would affect the growth to much depending on what type of corn he was growing. If he was to grow the BT corn, the affect of the ECB's wouldn't be that noticeable. After participating in this lab, I learned that in some types of corn the ECB level does matter, but in some other types it doesn't matter as much.

This experiment was a controlled experiment, because we were able to control what was grown, and the amount of ECB levels. By being able to control this, we kinda controlled our results as well. While doing some other research, I learned all about a double-blind study. A double- blind study is a study in which neither the patient nor the doctor know which test group the patient is in. After the first two weeks in biology, there has been a lot to learn. :)